Who is Esther? You might have heard her name in a Sunday School lesson, a sermon, or in a Bible Study.
The story of Esther is one of the most popular in the Old Testament.
She was a woman after God’s own heart who was beautiful inside and outside. There are many life lessons we can grasp and apply in our own lives.
The Book of Esther is one of the few in the Bible dedicated to a powerful woman of faith.
It has a few chapters and it’s one that we can read over and over again and get a new revelation each time. Esther’s character is an example to us all as Christian women.
Esther wasn’t born into a royal life of luxury but her rise to prominence and power gives us all hope that God has an extraordinary plan and purpose for our ordinary lives.
She forever changed history and the direction of her people through her actions, boldness, and faith in God.
In a time of crisis, Esther stood firmly in her faith in God and showed strong leadership qualities.
These are the 22 Characteristics of Esther in the Bible to inspire and encourage us in our faith.
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Who is Esther in the Bible
The name of Esther was Hadassah. This was her Jewish name. It comes from the word Hadas which means a myrtle tree.
It means righteousness and the tree represents peace, love, and prosperity.
Upon going into the king’s harem (a part of the palace where the king’s wives lived) as a young girl her name was changed to Esther to hide her identity. Esther means a star.
What was Esther known for?
Esther’s beauty made her popular and resulted in her being crowned as queen. She found favor with King Xerxes and with everyone who saw her.
When her people’s lives were threatened by Haman’s assassination plot, she asked the Jews to join her in fasting and praying for 3 days and 3 nights.
Such a kind of fast is widely known as the Esther fast today.
It produced amazing results because it gave her the boldness to go before the king and execute a plan that led to the Jewish people being saved from being killed.
What kind of woman was Esther?
Esther was a remarkable woman. She was polite, kind, caring and respectful.
She listened to the instructions of those who were put in her charge. She was also a God-fearing woman who trusted God and relied on him when faced with a difficult situation.
She was a woman who found favor with both people around her, the king and God.
How did Esther come to be the Queen of Persia?
King Ahasuerus, also referred to as King Xerxes was the ruler of the Persian empire and he threw a huge banquet and called everyone to come.
His wife at the time Queen Vashti also threw a banquet for the ladies.
When the King was in high spirits and drunk with wine, he commanded his eunuchs to bring the queen and display her beauty.
Queen Vashti refused to come and this disrespect made the king very angry. He divorced her and searched for a new queen. This is where Esther came in.
Esther was a beautiful young lady. She stayed in the citadel of Susa with her cousin Mordecai after her parents died.
They were Hebrew exiles transported to Babylon during Nebuchadnezzar’s time.
So they lived in a foreign land and Mordecai treated Esther like his own daughter.
When the king ordered the young girls in the land to go to the harem and spend months preparing to meet the king, Esther was also chosen to go.
Hegai, the King’s eunuch was in charge of the women including Esther. She found favor in his sight and he gave her special food, a special place, and attention.
After 12 months of beauty treatments, Esther was presented to the king. Esther’s beauty won the king’s heart and he found her more beautiful than the other young girls.
He placed the royal crown on her making her the new queen. The king then gave Esther a banquet and celebrated her appointment as the Queen of Persia.
Queen Esther Characteristics
Esther had certain traits that made her stand out and be influential. The way she talked, acted, and carried herself makes her worthy to study so that we can also become like her.
The story of Esther will encourage and spur you on to become the woman God wants you to be.
Through a personal relationship with Christ in our own lives and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed from the inside out to become amazing women like Esther.
Let’s take a look at some of the important and powerful Characteristics of Queen Esther in the Bible!
Esther was Courageous and Bold
One of the main qualities of Queen Esther is her courage to stand before King Xerxes and risk being killed.
She chose to be brave being aware of the risk involved. Her famous words prove her courage and boldness:
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 NIV
She had faith in God
Esther showed faith in God. She believed that he could do the impossible and turn the situation around for the Jewish people.
This was not a woman who merely spoke her faith but she lived it out even in a foreign land. She surrendered to God in fasting and prayer and trusted him for a breakthrough.
Even when she didn’t know how the situation would play out, she chose to depend on God and hold on to his promises for her people.
Esther was humble
Even with the highest position in the Persian empire, she remained humble and identified with her people’s struggles and challenges.
Life was good for her and she could have chosen to live in luxury but when the right time came to stand with the Jews who were suffering she didn’t let them down.
She knew her worth but still stayed humble. She didn’t consider herself better than others just because she was a queen. Her faith in God filled her with a humble spirit.
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She submitted to God
Esther was submissive to God’s calling and great things happened. She intentionally followed his ways.
By committing to fasting and praying for her people she gave up her own desires, comfort, and safety and chose to submit to God’s authority.
“So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 AMP
Esther was wise
Esther was able to make the right decision and take the right actions with God’s guidance. She chose her words wisely as she approached the king and presented her case.
She won his confidence first and this compelled him to ask her for anything she wanted.
This was a woman who used her position of influence for good. She used the anointing of wisdom upon her for the glory of God and not her own glory.
Esther was respectful and obedient to those in authority
Mordecai had instructed Esther not to tell anyone that she was a Jew when she went to the King’s palace as a young girl and potential future queen.
She listened to him and did not reveal her identity to anyone. Esther obeyed and respected Hegai, the King’s eunuch after he was put in charge of the women.
Even when she was presented before King Xerxes, she only wore what was suggested by Hegai. Both these men had an important role in her accession to power.
She had a servant heart
Even though she had the highest position in the land, Esther was available to be used for God’s plan and purpose.
She could have used her power for fame and luxury but she chose to lay aside the privileges of her important role and serve God and her people.
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:43-45 NIV
She was proactive
The assassination plot of all the Jews was a big threat and a serious situation. In fact, it was a crisis that needed her urgent attention.
While she was initially hesitant to do anything, she quickly became proactive and commanded the Jews to all fast and pray with her for an urgent plan of action from the Lord.
Esther was a strong leader
As a queen, Esther had great influence and she chose to use it wisely. She led the Jews in a time of corporate prayer and fasting.
This gave them hope and restored their faith in God’s power and plan for them.
She discipled other women
Esther was a guide and example to the women around her. In her prayer and fasting, she included those who served her.
These could have been Jews or Persians but she discipled them in the way of the Lord and taught them practically how to live by faith.
Through her actions and courage, she was a great example to all the women in the land.
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Esther knew the power of unity
She knew the importance of standing strong and united as the Jewish people to fast and pray to the Lord.
She could have done this alone but she knew that this would need them all to go before God with one mind and heart.
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV
She was submissive to her husband
Esther was submissive to her husband and respected him. If she hadn’t, she would have been dismissed and divorced like Queen Vashti.
She was committed to obeying the palace rules not to approach the king uninvited.
Only when Mordecai spoke of the assassination plot by Haman, did she pray and fast first before going before her husband.
Even then, she approached him with respect and politeness so he was able to listen to her words.
She had integrity
Esther could be trusted with important information and responsibilities.
She maintained high standards of integrity and gained favor with both God and people because of that.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9
Esther was Caring and Loving
One of the inspiring characteristics of Queen Esther was her compassion.
She had a golden heart and was concerned when she found out that Mordecai was wailing and sat in sackcloth and ashes as far as the king’s gate.
She sent Mordecai clothes and he didn’t accept them. She kept asking her eunuchs to go back and find out what was wrong until Mordecai told her about the order to kill all the Jews.
She was caring, concerned, and compassionate when others were in distress.
Esther was selfless and willing to serve others
Esther served others wholeheartedly from a place of love. She shared the love of God with those around her.
Although she had a position of authority she was selfless and sacrificed her own safety for the sake of her people.
Her words and actions made life easier for the Jews who had many hardships on them.
Esther was a prayerful woman
Queen Esther understood the power of prayer especially when you’re in a difficult situation.
She knew that on her own, she could not face the situation before her and sought God’s will in prayer before taking action.
Prayer and fasting strengthened her and gave her wisdom and boldness.
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She was dedicated to the things of God
As the Queen of Persia, Esther had an important role which likely came with various duties and responsibilities.
But she chose to give time, attention, and energy to the things of God by praying and fasting for 3 days and 3 nights.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV
Esther was discreet
When Mordecai told Esther not to tell anyone that she was a Jew in the King’s palace she listened and was discreet about her identity.
She knew when to reveal important information and when she did, her people were saved from destruction.
Esther had a teachable spirit
While she was a young woman and even as a queen, Esther had a teachable spirit.
She listened to the wise counsel and advice of those who knew more than her. She remained open to God’s plan for her life.
Esther had a heart for justice
It was not fair that the Jews would be destroyed because of their identity.
Esther chose to fight for her people and get them the justice they deserved. She protected them from injustice.
“Learn to do good. Seek justice, Rebuke the ruthless,Defend the fatherless, Plead for the [rights of the] widow [in court].” Isaiah 1:17 AMP
Esther was patient
For twelve months, Esther had to go through various beauty treatments before being presented to King Xerxes.
Even then she was not the first to go in but waited for many nights for other young girls to go before the king before her turn came.
She waited for 3 days while praying and fasting and during the banquet with Haman and the king, she had to wait for the right time for her plan to unfold.
Esther was open to God’s purpose and plan
As Esther went into the King’s palace as a young girl, she didn’t know what awaited her. But she knew God was with her and was open to the plan he had for her life.
When Esther told the Jewish people to fast and pray, she had no certain solution for the crisis they found themselves in.
But she was open to the Lord’s purpose and to being used by him to fulfill that purpose.
What Does the Story of Esther Teach Us
The Book of Esther has many life lessons you can take and apply in your own life.
We learn that God can extraordinarily use ordinary people for his plans and purpose even in a foreign land. Esther teaches us that when have courage and boldness, great things happen.
We learn the importance of having faith and trusting in God’s plan.
Our faith grows when we take time to build a close relationship with God through prayer, fasting, worship, and fellowship with others.
There is a reward in trusting God. There’s also a reward in being united with others in faith.
Esther’s story teaches us the power of being at the right place and the right time.
She teaches us to remain humble, loving, kind, and compassionate even when we are in leadership roles. We can use our positions to bring glory to the Lord.
We learn the importance of inner beauty.
While physical beauty is important and we should take care of ourselves as women, it’s important to have a godly character and allow the Holy Spirit to mold your mind, attitude, words, and actions so you can be beautiful inside and outside.
Esther is a great role model and example for us as believers.
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